TopEverest vs Admiral Kamikaze - the rematch

[topeverest]

SCENARIO 1 Random weather, FOW and Movement FOW.

TopEverest - Soviet
Admiral Kamikaze - German

The ole AK has been studying some best demonstrated early advance tactics and is once again
going to try to put down the RED MENACE (that's ME!)

We both have day jobs, so the game progress wont be Blitz speed

[topeverest]

While an experienced gamer with hundreds of titles under belt, I have only played this game a few times, and never to the end. I am open to any and all devious tactics that might help the RED MENACE crush the infidels.

Turn one has arrived, and here we go.

[topeverest]

Looks bad. he got pretty deep penetration

[chaos45]

You actually came out very well. He didnt get the ports by Riga so you can naval evac some of those units and you still hold riga. Plus you might be able to re-open supplies to some of the pockets and flip hexes back to soviet control to slow his infantry.

This is a tough opening for a german player.....its going to slow him down in the early critical turns.

[topeverest]

Seems about standard here

[topeverest]

NOt a lot to look at here.

[topeverest]

Chaos - thanks for the early reply. So you suggest burning units necessary to punch holes to get some supply to retreating units?

Any other thoughts?

[topeverest]

I was thinking I should read a couple good AAR's as instructionals. I was looking to attach to a new game but don't see any

Any ideas?

[Hagar]

Oh, several... Pelton's are definitely a good read, as those of Sillyflower, to name but a few... Both are experienced players, and I've learned a lot from those. I tend to read them all though, just to see whether there are tips&tricks I can use. And there is the collection of best posts, which has some helpful pointers as well.

[Hagar]

ORIGINAL: topeverest

Chaos - thanks for the early reply. So you suggest burning units necessary to punch holes to get some supply to retreating units?

Any other thoughts?

If you do, they're toast, and the resupplied units are not be able to move for yet another turn, so it would just prolong the inevitable, methinks. Overall, you did 'just as bad as you can expect'. I'd get as many of the cut-off units in Kurland out via naval evac as you can, and for the rest it's a rout to more defensive positions: either the Velikaya line or Luga line in the North, the Dnepr line in the center, and Dnjestr line (or other river lines up to the Dnjepr and/or old Stalin fortifications) you feel confident of using to slow down the follow-on attacks. At this stage unfortified soviet units have little hope of stopping determined attacks, though they might slow them a little, especially when using defense in depth. Defensive terrain (rivers, swamps) are usually the key terrains to form defensive lines. Only fortified positions behind rivers have a real hope of holding out for prolonged series of time at this stage. As German supply lines grow longer and the Panzers are less of a threat things will improve, but right now your main objectives are to slow them down and prevent encirclement.

[GabrielBora]

ORIGINAL: topeverest

Seems about standard here

He is too focused on traping soviet units instead of heading east .

you can stop the 3rd panzer army in front of polotsk -orsha axis and rebuild western northwestern fronts, because for the next 2 turns his armor in the north and center ,would be fighting without infantry support.

[GabrielBora]

ORIGINAL: Hagar

ORIGINAL: topeverest

Chaos - thanks for the early reply. So you suggest burning units necessary to punch holes to get some supply to retreating units?

Any other thoughts?

If you do, they're toast, and the resupplied units are not be able to move for yet another turn, so it would just prolong the inevitable, methinks. Overall, you did 'just as bad as you can expect'. I'd get as many of the cut-off units in Kurland out via naval evac as you can, and for the rest it's a rout to more defensive positions: either the Velikaya line or Luga line in the North, the Dnepr line in the center, and Dnjestr line (or other river lines up to the Dnjepr and/or old Stalin fortifications) you feel confident of using to slow down the follow-on attacks. At this stage unfortified soviet units have little hope of stopping determined attacks, though they might slow them a little, especially when using defense in depth. Defensive terrain (rivers, swamps) are usually the key terrains to form defensive lines. Only fortified positions behind rivers have a real hope of holding out for prolonged series of time at this stage. As German supply lines grow longer and the Panzers are less of a threat things will improve, but right now your main objectives are to slow them down and prevent encirclement.

AGN is very short of infantry, if he can force the diversion of one infantry corps north instead of east , it is already a succes .

[Hagar]

ORIGINAL: GabrielBora

ORIGINAL: Hagar

ORIGINAL: topeverest

Chaos - thanks for the early reply. So you suggest burning units necessary to punch holes to get some supply to retreating units?

Any other thoughts?

If you do, they're toast, and the resupplied units are not be able to move for yet another turn, so it would just prolong the inevitable, methinks. Overall, you did 'just as bad as you can expect'. I'd get as many of the cut-off units in Kurland out via naval evac as you can, and for the rest it's a rout to more defensive positions: either the Velikaya line or Luga line in the North, the Dnepr line in the center, and Dnjestr line (or other river lines up to the Dnjepr and/or old Stalin fortifications) you feel confident of using to slow down the follow-on attacks. At this stage unfortified soviet units have little hope of stopping determined attacks, though they might slow them a little, especially when using defense in depth. Defensive terrain (rivers, swamps) are usually the key terrains to form defensive lines. Only fortified positions behind rivers have a real hope of holding out for prolonged series of time at this stage. As German supply lines grow longer and the Panzers are less of a threat things will improve, but right now your main objectives are to slow them down and prevent encirclement.

AGN is very short of infantry, if he can force the diversion of one infantry corps north instead of east , it is already a succes .

Why would it divert infantry north from AGC to AGN? Despite the lack of infantry in AGN there's no chance to hold against the forces that are already there. Granted, Soviet units lost in 1941 will rebuild, but only after 11 turns (divisions). So get out what you can, and be aggressive with what's left to slow down the advance (i.e. try to reclaim captured territory, especially in key positions like the Köningsberg-Riga rail connection - if you can slow down the rail construction progress that's a big bonus, even if only a little). That will be a challenge as your forces in the Šiauliai area are already swept under the carpet though... But his failure to capture Ventspils gives you an opening to extract some of your forces there. I'd suggest holding on to Riga as being a port it's in supply and will require a heavy attack to dislodge (and won't force a surrender, but rather a rout). Besides, Riga is the obvious target for his rail advance up north. The longer you can hold on to it, the better. It probably won't last long, but will require some effort to clear (i.e. by mobile units, or it will give you some form of delay if he tries to do it with regular infantry).
At this stage the Germans aren't lacking in infantry IMHO, the infantry there is has trouble catching up with the Panzers. A couple of turns later the infantry comes back into play of course. Any trailing infantry can by-and-large catch up once the captured territory is firmly in German control (and thus advance more quickly).

Oh, and lest I forget, the Polotsk-Orsha line is the obvious line between the Velikaya and Dnjepr lines, and should indeed be the first target for a new defense line for the Northwestern Army. It is unlikely to hold for more than a few turns, but it will slow the Germans down. Should it fall the next line of defense is around Velikye Luki. I know some argue to forget about the Velikaya line and aim straight for the Luga line, but I usually try to make a stand at the Velikaya line, however futile, as it will slow down the Panzers.

[GabrielBora]

North as into the Courland peninsula not, AGC to AGN .

And no ,GHC it cannot aford trailing infantry in AGN area, the initial force alocation is indadequate for the the task .

[swkuh]

KUDOS topeverest for presentation; will we see "ole AK's" thoughts?

[chaos45]

I'll refrain from selling all the secrets since your both newish to WITE---key thing for Soviets in 1941 you are working to reduce German movement points more than actually stop them until closer to winter. So anything you can do to slow the German army's arrival at your MLR and limit their supply lines via zones of control or flipping ground the better.

[topeverest]

I am running a few other games and my Civil War II game blew up after I downloaded the patch. It appears dead to no avail. in any event, it has been very busy at work too but that hasn't been the issue in the gap is starting. really it has been using my available time to try to fix CW - which failed.

Future updates should yield a turn on average about every 2-3 days. Once again sorry for the delay

[topeverest]

Chaos,

Yes - I am pretty inexperienced in the game. A couple times through to 43 stalemate.

I appreciate the thoughts, interest, and restraint. It is likely I will stray from a wise path, perhaps far more than I thin I will.
And I agree that the MP drain from recon attacks on the mobile German units
has to be a big part of 41.

My only substantive goal is to avoid the first auto defeat, and prepare for the 41-2 winter counterattack

[topeverest]

RRBILL Hagar and Galbrielbora thanks for the interest. I will see what I can do on this first turn that I will post today.

My limited experience suggests that overcommitting to try to save the border units in the center always ends in disaster. Certainly, they should be used to burn enemy MP's and cut supply lines, and some will get out. But My experience is that the enemy can get anything they decide to take this early.

The AK and I go way back. He tends not to post much, but I can tell you that he subscribes to the Patton / Rommel school of armored warfare. He tends to run a relentless offensive machine. Where ever there is an opportunity to attack. expect it.

[topeverest]

My limited experience is what it is, but I have never saved Leningrad. My tactical goals will be to save as many production elements as possible until the winter grinds the enemy to a halt.

It is not yet clear to me if he intends on a Moscow concentration path, or Rostov and caucuses. time will tell.

But for now - it is time for some glory. onto the turn